they were elected not to sell out the way so many politicians had done, that they were elected to speak truth to power. >> they'd spent the last two years running around, particularly a lot of these new congressmen in their districts, saying absolutely horrible things about the president-- his ability to lead, his ideology, his integrity, his birth certificate. these are not easy people to deal with. this is a very difficult, ideological ucus, with a ver strong sense of self-righteousness and great vitriol and animosity for the president. >> narrator: for the president, it was a whole new game. >> i think he understood that the glory days were over, that the moment of celebration of barack obama was passed and he was heading into a much tougher, more trenchant period of his presidency when everything was going to be difficult, when everything was going to be more challenging. >> narrator: like all his predecessors, the president had one arena where he could act on his own. >> you are clear to engage him. >> let's go, roll it in. (explosions) >> good shot. >> go for the vehicle... >> all